Huge crowds throng Mysore

As Mysore is heading towards the end of the 2005 chapter of Dasara "" the grand march "" slated on October 13, visitors are flowing into the city.

The city has become a beehive of cultural activity, with multiple programmes, most of them drawing to a close on Wednesday, the penultimate day of the 10-day-long celebrations. This year's arrangements so far have proved far better than the last few years as they are well-planned and artistes of reputation chosen for various performances.

The city has lived to its reputation as 'the city of lights'. The Palace is lit up by nearly a lakh of bulbs, turning the majestic Indo-Saracenic structure into dazzling golden colour between 7 and 9 pm, attracting big crowds, some to listen to the ongoing music performances by nation's reputed musicians and others to roam around the sprawling grounds, taking a curious look at the Palace, its surrounding temples and gates lit up all around or the dozen elephants camped there.

The procession route of Sayaji Rao Road, from the Palace to the Banni Mantap, where the torchlight parade on October 13 evening will bring down the curtain on this year's Dasara, is the brightest of all the roads in the city. The royal road is lit with a series of lights all the way. A green pandal adds additional colour to the brightly illuminated road.

What has made Mysore more beautiful this year is the illumination of a large number of heritage buildings for the first time. These Indo-Saracenic structures, standing on some of the leading roads, are lit up with pleasing yellow lights, adding grace to the synthesis of Hindu-Muslim architecture, unique to India.

It is indeed a pleasure to see these graceful buildings back with a fresh coat of pale ivory colour, badly needed since several years. Mysore counts at least a 100 heritage buildings, now regaining their prominence, thanks to the initiative and interest shown by some senior officers.

Mysore-bound trains and buses are crowded with visitors to the city. Hotels are running full and business establishments, more so the saree and craft dealers' shops, are crowded with visitors buying a memento or the other.

But the sore spots are the main thoroughfares. Dug up for one purpose or the other, debris are piled up all around. At many places, the footpaths have become difficult for pedestrians to walk, while vehicles are blocking easy traffic movement.

The main event of the 10-day celebrations, the Vijaya Dasami procession will be formally inaugurated by chief minister N Dharam Singh making a puja to the Nandi Dhwaja at the Balarama gate at 12 noon.

The procession of goddess Chamundeswari in the golden howdah placed atop the elephant will take off between 12.20 pm and 12.30 pm from the foreground of the Palace. It is expected to reach the Banni Mantap parade grounds by 5 pm.

Torch-light parade and other programmes, ending by about 9 pm, will bring the curtains down on 2005 Dasara.